BSA, Hillel Discuss Groups' Relationship

Members of the Harvard-Radcliffe Black Students Association (BSA) and Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel came together yesterday to talk about relations between the two groups.

The discussion occurred in the wake of tensions between the two organizations sparked by a BSA-sponsored speech by controversial Wellesley College professor Tony Martin. In a letter passed out at the speech, Hillel officials protested against Martin, who in his writings has drawn links between Jewish history and racism against Blacks.

About 50 students came to the meeting, which was in Sever Hall 113. According to participants on both sides, the event was a success.

"I thought I got a better understanding of where the problems arose," said BSA vice president Alison L. Moore '97. "I think we found several ways the communication could be improved."

After an opening statement, the students broke into three smaller groups, each headed by a representative from BSA and a representative from Hillel.

The groups then discussed six questions selected by organizers from both organizations.

Co-organizer Michael H. Price '95, former interethnic chair of Hillel, said he felt the discussion was open and helpful.

"In my group there was definitely interaction," he said. "It was not rhetoric, but frank and open conversation."

Moore agreed. "I think each side got a better sense of where the other side was coming from," she said.

Price said he hopes to see future events along the lines of the discussion last night.

"I think it's significant that events like this have been occurring quite often in the last two semesters," he said. "That is very much due to commitment on the parts of both the BSA and Hillel."

According to Price, the questions discussed by the groups were:

* What is anti-Semitism? What is racism? Is there an objective standard? Who has the right to define these terms?

* A hypothetical situation: What would you do if Hillel invited a controversial speaker to talk on a topic not explicitly dealing with Blacks? The speaker has been linked to potentially offensive views on racial issues.

* How does one judge the content of a speech based on prior knowledge of the speaker?

* Are their disagreements within your community, and if so, how is that reconciled with the need to present a united front?

* Why is the relationship between Blacks and Jews on campus important? What measures are needed to preserve this relationship?

* What do you think are effective methods of communication between our communities?